Houston Texans DVOA, Stats, & NFL Rankings

Houston Texans running back Joe Mixon compiled 71 total yards with no touchdowns in a 27-19 defeat at Kansas City on Saturday. The first-year Texan had a decent day on the ground against a strong Chiefs run defense, compiling 57 yards on 14 carries, but wasn't involved much as a receiver, drawing just two targets for one catch and 14 yards. The veteran has now gone back-to-back weeks without a score after compiling 11 touchdowns in the prior eight games. Mixon and the Texans will be back in action in short order, taking on the Baltimore Ravens on Christmas Day.

Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud delivered a decent if unspectacular performance in a 27-19 loss to Kansas City, completing 23 of 39 passes for 244 yards to go with two touchdowns and two interceptions. He also rushed for 23 yards on two carries. The sophomore quarterback threw touchdown passes to tight end Dalton Schultz and wide receiver Tank Dell, but the two picks were a drag on the day, and he failed to hit 300 passing yards for the 10th straight game as Houston's offense can't quite seem to take the next step. Stroud and the Texans will have a quick turnaround with a Christmas Day game against a struggling Baltimore pass defense in Week 17.

Houston Texans wide receiver Tank Dell (knee) has been ruled out for the remainder of Saturday's game. Dell sustained this injury while making an impressive 30-yard TD reception. The sophomore wide receiver was eventually carted off the field. Before exiting, Dell caught six of his seven targets for 98 yards and a score. His seven targets were the second-most on the team behind Nico Collins at the time. Dell suffered a broken leg last December which cut his season short and now is in danger of missing the remainder of the 2024 campaign. Fantasy managers should pay close attention to any updates regarding his status. If he were to miss an extended period of time, Nico Collins would be in store for a massive target share down the stretch and in the playoffs.

Now that Houston Texans running back Joe Mixon (ankle) is officially off the Week 16 injury report, fantasy managers can comfortably pencil him in as an RB2 option against the Kansas City Chiefs. The veteran back has had a nice first year as a Texan, but faces a Chiefs defense that ranks first in the NFL against fantasy running backs. Kansas City sits second in the league in yards per attempt allowed and is among the five teams allowing under 100 overall rushing yards per game. Mixon is still starting worthy, especially with 32 catches in 11 games played, but managers should think of him more as a second option in fantasy given the tough matchup.

The struggling Houston Texans' passing game combined with the blitz-happy Kansas City Chiefs should have fantasy managers dialing back expectations for quarterback C.J. Stroud in Week 16. The second-year quarterback has been sacked the fifth-most times in the league this year, which is not a great sign against a Kansas City defense that knocks down quarterbacks and blitzes at the second-highest rate in the NFL. Last year's Rookie of the Year hasn't logged a top-10 quarterback finish since Week 4 or passed for 300 yards since Week 5. The fantasy playoffs and a game at the defending champs probably is not the time or place to bet on a rebound for managers in one-QB formats.